Hiyalin Kıkırdağın Değişik Konaklara Biyolojik Tropizmi - Hayvan Deneyi

Abstract

There are several in vitro studies about chondrocyte cultures and proliferation, however, there are not sufficient number of them about in vivo proliferation. Our hypothesis was that, some tissues might promote and enhance condrogenesis in living organisms. We aimed to evaluate the condrogenesis stimulation potential of various types of soft tissues such as omentum, peritoneum, muscle and Achilles paratenon in a rabbit model. 45 New Zealand rabbits were used following the permission of the local ethical committee. Standard sizes of osteochondral grafts were harvested form right knees. Five groups were formed and graft samples were placed securely into the omentum (n=10), peritoneum (n=10) , muscle (n=10) and Achilles paratenon tissue (n=10). Control group (n=5) was native distal femoral condylar cartilage. After five months, samples were collected, evaluated histologically and quantification of the chondrocytes was performed by using the camera lucida system of a light microscope. Microscopic sections were counted under 200X magnification at a constant area of 0.01mm2 at 10 different areas for each section. The mean number of chondrocytes were 16,0 ±0,67 in control group (n=5), 14,4 ±0,97 in omentum (n=7), 9,7 ±1,39 in muscle (n=4), 9,2 ±0,42 in Achilles paratenon (n=5) and 15.4±1,09 in peritoneum group (n=8) respectively. Mean number of chondrocytes in paratenon and muscle group were meaningfully lower than control and omentum group (Kruskal - Wallis p <0,001). When they were compared omentum and peritoneum groups were not statistically different from control group (p >0,05). After the implantation of osteochondral autografts into the mesothelial sites, grafts sustained their cellularity and viability histologically. The results of this study indicate that omentum and peritoneum may have the potential to be used as an in vivo incubator for osteochondral tissue growth in animals.